Iran confirms prisoner swap talks with US

Iran yesterday confirmed ongoing negotiations with the United States over a possible prisoner exchange.

On Saturday, the US Special Envoy for Iran, Robert Malley, said President Joe Biden insists on the release of all Americans and will not accept a “partial deal”.

In response to a question about Malley’s statements, Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei confirmed the ongoing talks adding their outcome “will be announced if the Iranian prisoners are released, our interests are realised and the negotiations are fruitful”.

Rabiei reiterated his country’s readiness to “swap all political prisoners in exchange for freeing all Iranian prisoners across the world,” noting that it was the administration of former US President Donald Trump that had “refused to sit at the negotiating table and insisted on taking Iranians hostage.”

On Monday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had “put forth a plan to swap all Iranian and American prisoners,” state news agency IRNA reported.

“Biden’s administration also considered this issue from its first day” in office, he added.

READ: Iranian commander urged escalation against US forces at Iraq meeting, sources say